Seahopper FAQ

How to buy a Seahopper

Q: Do you have distributors or resellers in Italy/USA and/or do you ship your product to Italy/USA etc?

A: We do not currently have any distributors or agents. We are, however, able to ship our boats to anywhere in the world and regularly ship to Europe and the USA. Check out the website for an indication of shipping costs.

Q: I want to buy a Seahopper – how do I proceed?

A: Our boats can be ordered directly from the website and payment made by PayPal or by debit/credit card. We do not have direct selling agents. We build to order and dispatch within 10-12 weeks from order. We would ask you to pay 50% with the order and the balance before dispatch.

Q: If I order a Seahopper, how long will it be before I get it?

A: All our boats are built to order. Build process is currently up to 12 weeks. We will keep you updated on progress once your order is confirmed.

Q: Does the bow and stern canvas come only in the blue colour?

A: No, please look at our website. Our standard colours are black, cream, brown and blue. We are also able to offer other colours from time to time.

Assembly and Build

Q: Why are the rowlocks on my boat offset on either side?

A: This allows the boat to fold properly. If they were not offset, they would clash on folding!

Q: The boom seems low at the stern, is the boat rigged properly?

A: When tightening the fore stay, pull the mast towards the bow which in turn tightens the side stays and will left the boom when you have fitted this.

Q: Can you supply replacement seats for my old Seahopper?

A: Yes we can supply replacement seats; there is however a practical problem which must be considered. Each boat is hand finished which includes fitting to shape the bow and stern seats. For us to supply replacements it must be on condition that you may need to finish the edges of the seats with a finishing plane, rasp or something like a surform, and fit the catches onto the seats, using a 4mm drill. We would dip coat them with varnish but you would probably need to varnish once again after you have made the adjustments. We would of course supply written instructions.

Q: How do I use the sand wheels?

Q: How do I build and rig the boat?

A: Refer to your Owner’s Manual which has full details plus images of the various stages of build.

Q: Why do the bolts on the catches for the seats protrude?

A: This is to allow for the retro-fitting of dual purpose air fenders.

Q: What are the small blocks with holes, fitted forward of the centre seat?

A: These are the housings for sprayhood which can be retro-fitted.

Q: Can you recommend any way of securing the assembled boat to a pair of davits off the back end of my other boat?

A: A simple method we have used is to drill 6mm holes in the 6mm marine ply just under the gunwhale, port and starboard quarter and port and stbd bow. You can then attach short rope strops (permanently or temporarily) which in turn can be fixed to the drops from your davits.

Sails

Q: What colour sails do you provide?

A: We can currently offer red or white sails – both look good on any of the models!

Q: What does the sailing rig consist of exactly?

A: The rig consists of mast, gaff, boom, 2 sails, forestay and 2 shrouds, 2 halyards plus kicking strap, jib sheets, all hull fittings and screws and assembly instructions. We have recently re-introduced the simple Lug Sail available at a discount on all verisons in red or cream. Please note that the Gunter rig on the Scamp consists of the main alone as there is insufficient fore triangle area for a jib.

Q: My Seahopper only has a mainsail. Am I able to buy a jib on its own?

A: Yes you can buy a jib alone. One practical problem, however, is that the sail colour may not match exactly.

Q: Is it possible to purchase a sailing rig separately?

A: Yes we can supply the rig alone – check out our website for further details.

Q: Approximately how long does the Seahopper with sail kit take to set up?

A: The first time you construct a full rig Seahopper you need to allow an hour to get the hang of it all! After a few practices you will get this down to 20 minutes from offloading from your roof rack. The row or motor version, ie without the sailing rig is much quicker – say 5-10 minutes!

Outboard Motors

Q: I want to fit a small outboard to my Seahopper. Do you keep the necessary parts and if so how much will they cost?

A: We can offer both a standard outboard bracket and a dual purpose motor mount. Take a look on the accessories page of our website for further detail and costings.

Q: I am thinking about buying an outboard bracket for my Kondor and am wondering what is the difference between the normal bracket and the dual purpose bracket?

A: The standard bracket hooks over the stern and can carry either a rudder and tiller or an outboard. The dual purpose version can carry both at the same time. To achieve this we use the same pattern as for the standard bracket and make an extension to either the right or the left (customer choice) onto which the outboard is fixed.

Q: Please can you advise on the best outboard motor for your boats?

A: We do not actually sell outboard motors. We do advise, however, that the maximum size engine recommended for any of our boats is a 4hp (4 stroke) outboard engine. Any one of our 3 models will perform well with this. They are light and compact and have low emissions for you and the environment. We know there are many on the market to choose from, but would suggest that you go to a reputable dealer for more advice.

Varnish and Repairs

Q: Why is the varnish on the floor rough?

A: This is a safety feature which gives better adhesion to your shoe soles and thus reduces risk of slipping.

Q: My Seahopper is in need of a sand and re-varnish. Have you any advice on what to use? I’m not overly worried about finish and don’t mind painting the whole boat with paint if it is a more reliable product.

A: Our advice is not to paint it. Rather use a good quality yacht varnish – try to get hold of Coo-Var Yacht and Seaplane Varnish from a reputable builders merchants. Rub lightly with 180 sandpaper and apply 2 thin coats. If you want to reduce problems with scratching the keel (pretty much unavoidable in normal use) consider fitting a couple of thin sacrificial strips of wood onto the keel – but just glue these don’t use screws or nails or you might end up with a leak!

Q: I have just bought an old Seahopper and it needs some small varnish repairs on the bottom. Which varnish shall I use?

A: We use a traditional yacht varnish and tend to but this from builders merchants rather than yacht chandlers as it is cheaper! We recommend something like of Coo-Var Yacht and Seaplane Varnish.

Q: How do I finish a self varnish boat?

Q: Our boat is leaking from one of the rubbing strips on the hull which has cracked and became partially detached. How can we repair it?

A: Small leaks in the PVC joining strips can usually be fixed by using flexible sealant. We recommend using CT1 (available from most builders merchants) which is a hybrid polymer dual purpose adhesive and sealant. It can also be used for sticking back any lose edges which might appear after excessive use.

Q: I recently bought a second hand Seahopper which unfortunately leaks. Have you any suggestions for curing this?

A: We tend to use a product called CTI for the sort of repair you refer to (you can get it from most builders merchants). The clear version can be applied liberally and smoothed with a tool or your finger in a plastic glove.

Q: My old Seahopper is leaking around the dagger board casing. How can I solve that so I can start using it again?

A: Depending on the age of the boat it may have been fitted with a rubber gasket. We replaced these several years ago using a sealant which on compression forms a good watertight seal. To achieve this remove the casing (2 screws from the keel upwards and 4 screws down from the casing on to the keel). Then use a CT1 from any good builder merchants. Place a bead of about 5mm diameter around the base of the daggerboard casing and screw down into position leaving about a 2mm cushion of the sealant. Allow to dry before screwing the six screws into position, compressing the rubber gasket you have made. You can use masking tape to ensure a good clean line on the hog where you screw down the casing. Also make sure you smear the sealant onto the inside of the casing to improve water tightness – good luck!

Other

Q: Can I upgrade once I have bought my boat?

Q: Can I buy a used Seahopper from you?

A: From time to time owners ask us to sell their boats on their behalf, and we often have a few boats in stock. Buying a quality checked new boat from us can be a great way to cut the cost of owning a Seahopper. As a buyer, look out for special offers on the website. Any boat you buy from us will be less than 7 years old, have been re-varnished, and any snags dealt with. We’ll deliver your pre-loved Seahopper to your door with the peace of mind of a new 2 year guarantee.

Q: Can I trade in my existing Seahopper for another boat?

A: Yes of course. Simply take a few photographs of your existing boat, and provide information on its age and condition and we will make you a cash offer to offset against your new boat.

Q: Will you sell my Seahopper for me?

A: We will do our best to sell your boat for you. To do this please take 3 photographs of your boat from different angles including shots of the sails if appropriate. Send these by email to us with a short note about the condition of the boat, including damage etc. Once we receive these we will give you an estimate of what we think it will sell for. This is not a guaranteed price. Once you decide to go ahead we will collect the boat, re-varnish it, make whatever minor repairs are necessary and offer it for sale with a new 2 year guarantee. We’ll then offer it for sale through the website, taking enquiries, providing further information, answering queries, storing the boat, and delivering direct to the customer. In other words we do all the work for you! Once payment is made we transfer 55% of the money into your bank account.

Q: How will my boat/order be delivered?

A: Boats ordered from mainland Europe are delivered door to door by courier. You will be notified by text by the courier when the shipment is due. An able bodied person needs to be available for the delivery as the packaged boats, especially the Kondor with full sail gear can be heavy. For US, Canada and most other far off places we can arrange door to door delivery for the Scamp, and the Lighter and optional extras, but not for the Kondor. This boat is judged too large and is therefore shipped as a personal import and needs to be collected by the customer. Once the flight is confirmed we will send you an Air Waybill number and flight number. The airline will contact you upon the arrival of your boat and you must organise any duties/costs to be paid, before arriving at the airport.

Q: How are the boats packed for transport?

A: Each finished order is carefully prepared for dispatch. “Twice Used” internal packaging might have been used, which is our tiny contribution to saving the earth and reducing waste. Pristine double walled cardboard is always used for the outer packaging. We’ve tried purpose built boxes and polystyrene foam etc but they just don’t protect the boat well enough.

Q: Is there a Seahopper world championship?

A: No, not as far as we are aware!

Q: I have a used Seahopper, could you please let me know how I tell the age from the plate at the back?

A: The WIN number on the back of our boats only apply to the KONDOR which fits within the Recreational Craft Directive. Here is a recent example: GBKON7512C1716…..GB is obvious; KON is our MIC (manufacturer’s identification code); 7512 is the unique identification code; C17 means the boat was built in March 2017 and the final number refers to the model year.